Expert Tips To Determine If a Child is Ready to Start Primary School | Andrew Oberthur | Ep 166

We’ve arrived at the point of the year where parents need to make the decision if their preschooler is ready to commence primary school next year, or not. This is determined by the cut-off dates for your state or territory meaning that your child must turn five by that date to start school.

This decision determines if your child will be among the older, more mature, taller students, and depending on their academic level can determine their level of confidence. Not only throughout primary but their secondary education also. So the decision is no mean feat

If you’re a parent with a child, especially a boy, who was born in one of the months before the cutoff date for enrolment at school and could do with some expert advice, this is for you.

Today we welcome Andrew Oberthur, a father of two teenagers and a Primary School Principal with over 30 years’ experience teaching and leading primary schools in Brisbane.

Andrew is here to share expert age, gender, and school readiness tips to help you make informed decisions that are right for you.

We ask Andrew questions including:

In your article you see 5 assumptions on this topic, what are they?
What are the qualities that would indicate a child is ready to cope with the rigours of primary school?
Are age and gender enough to determine if a child is ready to start school?
Can it be detrimental to a child if they start school before they are ready? If so, how?
In your opinion, do you think the introduction of 3 year old kinder will help with increasing children’s age-appropriate level of skills in communication, socialisation and independence? Or that is inbuilt in the child’s and their personality which in turn can’t be developed?
Why can’t Australian governance structures agree on when children should start school?
What can parents do to assist in preparing their children to be most ready for school?
Who is best placed to give parents advice about their child’s readiness for school, especially at this time of the year?
If my child, especially my son, is born just a month or less from cut off date, should they have a second year at Kindy?
What are the 3 factors that may influence a child’s communication, socialisation and independence?
I understand there are many conditions that provide children with the experiences to have them prepared for school, what are they?